Combined switch and box lock.



J. H. McCLURE.

COMBINED SWITCH AND BOX LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB: 28, 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

UNTTED STATES PATMNT @Fllt) 2....

JOHN H. MOULURE, 015 DETROIT, IJIICIIIGAN, ASSIGNOB ()1? ONE-HALF TO FRED C. MGCLURE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED SWITCH AND BOX LOCK.

Application filed February 28, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. MOCLURE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of lilichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Switch and Box Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to locking devices, and is adapted particularly for use in connection with coil boxes for housing ignition elements and switches.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby a coil box may be securely locked in closed position and whereby a. switch may be simultaneously held against operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the class described which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is composed of comparzn tively few readily assembled parts, the said parts being assembled in such manner as to preclude liability of breakage or derangement of the same, and which will prove positive and thoroughly efiicient in the attainment of the ends for which it is designed.

Vith these objects in view together with others which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a vertical sectional view taken through a portion of a battery or coil box and a locking device constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2, is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, is a similar view illustrating various parts of the locking mechanism in changed position, Fig. 4, is a rear face view of the casing for the locking mechanism, Fig. 5, is a detail perspective view of the improved locking plate, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.-

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 6 indicates generally a conven- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. *7, 1916.

Serial No. 80,994.

tional form of coil box, having the usual hinged lid or cover 7. Secured to the outer face of the front wall of the box is a casing 8, which extends at one end a trifle bevoud the uppermost edge of the front face of the box as shown. This casing provides a rear wall or back 9 from the edges of which extend a flange 10, having at various points in its extent inwardly projecting lugs 11. A skeleton plate 12 is provided w th arms adapted to overlie the lugs 11, ad arms and lugs being provided *0 V openings through which bolts 13 extend. the said bolts projecting through the front wall of the box to have secured at their inner ends retaming nuts 14;. From this construction it is apparent that it would be impossible to remove the casing from the coil box from the exterior of the same, but it will be obvious that the nuts It will be readily accessible from the inside of the box should it be desired to remove the casing. For the purpose of holding the lid 7 of the coil box in closed position, a plunger is provided. This plunger extends transversely through the casing S at that end of the latter which extends beyond the uppermost edge of the front wall 6 of the box. This plunger is mounted for sliding movement in suitable bearin openings formed in the rear wall of the casing and one of the inturned lugs, and may be round throughout the major portion of its extent. The shank of this plunger is preferably squared adjacent its point of engagement with the rear wall 9, and an annular groove 16 is formed in the squared portion to provide spaced shoulders 17. Extending inwardly from the flange 10 adjacent the plunger is a bracket member 18, the said bracket member being arranged parallel to the rear wall 9 and spaced slightly therefrom, the said bracket being provided with an opening through which the plunger 15 is adapted to slide. A coil spring 19 encircles the plunger 15, resting at one end against the bracket 18, and bearing at its opposite end against a pin 20 ex tending through the plunger 15, whereby pressure is delivered to the pin or plunger to force the same into locking engagement with the opening 21 in the cover or top 7 of the box. A suitable handle 22 may be arranged upon the opposite end of the plunger to facilitate operation of the same. It will an LU be seen that the tension spring 19 normally maintains the plunger in projected or looking position, and at such time the annular groove 16 therein lies in the space between the rear wall 9 of the casing and the bracket 18.

A conventional form of lock 23 is arranged within the casing adjacent the lower end thereof, the said lock having the usual sliding bolt 24 adapted to be actuated by a key 25 for movement toward or away from the plunger 15. A locking plate 26 is mounted for sliding movement upon the inner face of the rear wall 9 of the casing, a housing 27 being arranged within the casing to straddle the said locking plate to hold the same in proper position. The lowermost end of the plate 26 is preferably widened as shown, and is provided with an upturned plate constituting a head 28. A slot 29 extends longitudinally of the plate equidistant from the lateral edges thereof and preferably of a length equal to that of the widened portion of the said plate. This plate is adapted normally to lie with its head 28 against the bolt 24 of the lock and to be moved accordingly as the said bolt is moved, a spring 30 being arranged within the housing 27 to bear against the ear 3]. upon the said plate to hold the latter at all times yieldably engaged at its head end with said locking bolt. The opposite end of the plate 26 may be bifurcated as shown, the

7 said furcations being spaced apart a distance sufficient to admit the annular groove portion of the plunger 15 therebetween. This end of the plateis normally retracted from engagement with said annular groove portion of the plunger, but upon outward movement of the locking bolt 24 the plate 26 is forced upwardly against the tension of the spring 30 to force the bifurcated end of the plate into engagement *ith the annular groove 16 in the said plunger. \Vhen in this position it is obvious that the shoulders 17 upon the plunger will engage the opposite faces of the plate end and will prevent movement of the locking plunger. Upon retraction of the locking bolt the plate 26 will be forced downwardly to retract the bifurcated end thereof to disengage the same from the plunger 15', whereupon the latter may be operated to release the lid 7.

Associated with the means above described for locking the boX lid is a mechanism governed by the movement of the plate 26 for simultaneously locking or releasing the ignition switch within the box. A switch knob 31 of conventional form is mounted within the casing 8, the knob in the present instance being shown as one wherein rotation of the same closes or opens the switch, and further description of this element is deemed unnecessary. A switch operating stem 32 extends throu h the rear wall of the casing, at such position as to project through the slot 29 in the plate 26. Secured upon this stem is a nut 33, the same being provided at its inner extremity with a reduced portion 34 providing an annular shoulder 35 for engagement with the edges of the slot 29. Suitable locking knobs or bosses 36 may be arranged upon the outer face of the nut 33 for engagement with the knob 31 also mounted upon thestem 32. From this construction it will be seen that rotary movement delivered to the stem 32 will operate the knob 31 to open or close the switch, or to make or break the contact. The not 33 is cut away as at 36 to provide a flat face, the said face being solocated upon the nut that when the same is in position to be contacted by the head 28 of the locking plate the switch knob 31 will be positioned to break the electrical circuit. When in this position with the plate 26 extended, it is apparent that rotary move ment of the stem 32 will be prevented. Upon retraction of the bolt and locking plate, however, it will be observed that the switch stem will be free to rotate.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that a single operation of the key 25 will serve to lock or unlock, accordingly as it is turned, the box securely in closed position, and the switch of the electrical contact in open position. 'lVhen in locked position the bifurcated end of the locking plate will hold the plunger 15 against retraction, while the engagement of the head 28 will prevent rotation of the switch stem. Upon retraction of the bolt, these movable elements are released and may be easily operated.

While the above is a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention, I do not necessarily restrict myself to the details of construction and arrangement of parts herein referred to, as it is apparent that various changes may be made in the minor details without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a boX and a lid therefor, of a casing secured to said boX, a plunger mounted within said casing and adapted for engagement with said top, the said plunger being provided with an annular groove, a lock in said casing having a bolt adapted for movement toward and away from said plunger, a plate mounted for sliding movement within'said casing and normally engaged at one end with said bolt, the opposite end of said plate being bifurcated and adapted to fit within said groove, and means for retracting said plunger, substantially as described. r

2. In a'device of the class described, the combination with a box and a lid therefor,

of a casing secured to said box, a plunger normally engaged with said lid, a lock within said casing, the said lock being provided with a bolt adapted for movement toward and away from said plunger, a plate normally engaged at one end with said bolt, means at the opposite end of said plate for engaging said plunger when said bolt is extended, a head on said plate, a switch stem, a nut on said stem, the said nut being provided with a fiat face to be engaged by said head, and means for retracting said plate, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a switch operating knob, of a casing inclosing said knob, a lock within said casing having a bolt adapted for movement toward and away from said knob, a plate mounted for sliding movement within said casing, a head on said plate, means for yieldably holding said plate in, engagement with said bolt, the said plate being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a stem extending through said casing and slot and supporting said knob, a nut on said stem connecting said knob, and the said nut being provided with a fiat face for engagement with said head, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing, a plunger mounted to extend transversely of said casing, the said plunger being provided with an annular groove, a lock adjacent the opposite end of said casing and having a bolt adapted for movement toward and away from said plunger, a plate slidably mounted within said casing with one end engaged with said bolt, the opposite end of said plate being bifurcated and adapted to engage said annular groove, the said plate being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a stem projecting through said slot, a nut on said stem, the said nut having a fiat face adapted for engagement with said plate when the latter is extended, and means for retracting said plate, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, a box having a cover, a casing secured to said box, a plunger in said casing, means tending normally to hold said plunger in engagement with said cover, a shoulder on said plunger, a lock in said casing having its bolt adapted to be moved toward and away from said plunger, a plate mounted for sliding movement within said casing and having. its ends lying adjacent said shoulder and boltrespectively, and means for holding said plate engaged with said bolt, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a locking plunger and a switch stem, of a sliding plate adapted when moved in one direction to lock said plunger and stem against movement, and means for sliding said plate, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a locking plunger and a switch stem, of a sliding plate adapted when moved in one direction to lock said plunger and stem against movement, means for normally maintaining said plate in unlocking position, and means for moving said plate to lock said plunger and stem, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. MOCLURE.

Witnesses THOMAS COALTER, FRED C. MCCLURE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

